WA Cares Fund is a new state program that makes long-term care insurance affordable for all Washingtonians for the first time. With the WA Cares Fund, you can receive long-term care services and support. WA Cares Fund is a benefit you earn (like Social Security) that covers care in your home or at a facility, as well as home modifications, meal delivery, car rides, and caregiver training.
WA Cares - Support For Family Caregivers
Learn more at wacaresfund.wa.gov
Contributions
The WA Cares Fund helps working Washingtonians earn access to long-term care benefits. By contributing 0.58% of each paycheck while working, Washingtonians earn $36,500 in lifetime long-term care insurance coverage (grows over time with inflation). The typical Washington worker earning just over $59,000 per year contributes about $29 per month. WA Cares Fund is self-funded entirely by employee contributions. Contributions stop the moment you stop working.
Earning Your Benefits
With your WA Cares benefits, you’ll have up to $36,500 (grows over time with inflation) to spend on covered services. But how much does that really cover? For about a third of people, this amount could cover all the care they need in a lifetime. For everyone else, it will provide immediate relief from long-term care costs without the need to spend down their savings, as well as time to plan for any future needs. Starting in May 2026, you will be able to apply for benefits.
You earn lifetime access to benefits by contributing at least 10 years without a break of 5+ years. You can also access benefits if you contributed 3 of the past 6 years at the time you apply. People born before 1968 can earn lifetime access to 10% of the full benefit amount for each year they contribute.
Exemptions
There are several exemption pathways available, and if approved, individuals would not be required to participate in the program. Please visit the WA Cares Fund Exemptions Page to find out more about these exemptions, when and how to apply, and learn what it means for your WA Cares benefit going forward.
